discovered him in thé A&&% process of assaulting their l-year-
old daughter, They said that he had deeded his property over to
them prior to killing himself to atone for his sin and they refused
to vary their story. However, after an investigation uncovered evi-
dence of the bigamous marraige, they were tried, convicted and sen-
tenced tq die. The actual motive could have been to procure Fawcett!
property or to prevent his prosecuting Mrs, Potts for bigamy, but the
truth of that willnever be known, Prior to her execution, Mus. Potts
attempted suicide twice, once by slashing her wrists and once by
smothering herself,, On June 20, 1890, they were hanged at Hlko in a
fprivate execution. Because of Mrs, Fabt's excessive weight and the
long drop that was used, she was practically decapitated by, the fall,
THE APPLE TREK, Sunday, Auge 24, 1975, by Phillip I. Earl, Page 13
FRONTIER TIMES, January, 1971. "Too Many Husbands " by Donald
averett. Page 45, (See also ltr, did, 11-9-1981 from Howard Hickson
irle : Q "re dence
TAME rrr en HS Neve Ghoned cone sponder Hangings That Made Histor;
by Doris Cerveri, Page 2),
8 Nevada law specifically forbade the hanging of a pregnant woman,
she also sought to attain this condition by luring the jailer into her
cell, but he was afraid to enter because of her superior size and
strength. The Potts held hands, kissed and protested their innocence
from the scaffold,
discovered him in thé ABKEWXEX&K process of assaulting their l-year-
old daughter, They said that he had deeded his property odver to
them prior to killing himself to atone for his sin and they refused
to vary their story. However, after an investigation uncovered evi-
dence of the bigamous marraige, they were tried, convicted and sen-
tenced tg die, The actual motive could have been to procure Fawcett!
property or to prevent his prosecuting Mrs, Potts for bigamy, but the
truth of that willnever be known. Prior to her execution, Mus, Potts
attempted suicide twice, once by slashing her wrists and once by
smothering herself,, On June 20, 1890, they were hanged at Elko in a
private execution, Because of Mrs, Pabt!s excessive weight and the
long drop that was used, she was practically decapitated by. the fall,
THE APPLE TREE, Sunday, Aug. 2h, 1975, by Phillip I. Earl, Page 13
FRONITER TIMES, January, 1971, ™Zoo Many Husbands " by Donald
Everett. Page 5, (See also ltr. dtd, 11-9-1981 from Howard Hickson!
oA AR rran TRS NEY. “ihe setae Gane nos That Made Histor;
ing of a pregnant woman,
ing the jailer into her
because of her superior size and
Kissed and protested their innocence
discovered him in the KESKWIEXEE process of assaulting their l-year-
old daughter, They said that he had deeded his property over t
them prior to killing himself to atone for his sin and they refused
to vary their story. However, after an im ation uncovered evi-
dence of the bigamous marraigs, they were tried. dy convicted and sen-
tenced to die. The acfual motive could have been to procure Fawcatt!|
property or to prevent his prosecuting Mrs, Potts for bigamy, but, the|
truth of that ve known, Prior to her execution, Mrs. Potts
attempted suicide twice, once by 6 ‘lashing her wrists
smothering herselfy, On June 20, 1890, they were hanged at Elko in a
private Gxcoutfon, Because of tins, Fobt's excessive weight and the
long drop that s
and once by
155 by PaiLip . Earl,
"foo Many Husbands o by Donald
a es also Lire did. 11-9 1981 from Howard Hickson|
d
snag S9FES Sa
Tne heey Baretacs Th
Doris
hanging of a pregnan’
attain this condition by luring a unsiter ‘into her
enter because of her superior size and
ands, kissed and protested their innocence
‘rom the scaf fo:
June 20, 1890
POTTS, Josiah and Elizabeth Atherton:
Potts, 4 white man, and his 40-year-old wife, Elizabeth, moved from
Rock Springs, Wyo., to Carlin, Nev., where Potts obtained employment
as a wachinist with the Southern Pacific Railroad, In 1889, Mrs,
Potts advertised under maiden name 48X4 with a matrimonial agency
and met and Married a 55 =year=old resident of Fresno, Calif,, Miles
Fawcette She divided her time between her tw o husbands until Faw-
cett became suspicious and traced her to Carlin. Hopelessly enamored
of the 51 tala, 300 1b, matron, Fawcett moved to Carlin and purchased
&@ ranch on the outskirts of town aind made arrangements to board with
the Potts. On January 5, 1888, he was seen to enter their house and,
after that, he compltely disappeared, The Potts presented a bill of
Sale for his wagon and team as well as his other property and: said
that he had given it to then for his board bill and had left on a
train. Shortly afterwards, they sold their property in Carlin and re-
turned to Rock Springs, ‘The people who had purchased the Potts house
were disburbed at night by noises emanating from the cellar and, upon |
in estigation, discovered Fawcett!s dismembered body minus the head,
The Potts were extradited from Wyoming and they claimed tha Fawcett
had committed suicide by shooting himself inthe head after they had
0
June 20, 1890
POTTS, Josiah and Elizabeth Atherton
Potts, a white man, and his 40-year-old wife, Elizabeth, moved from
Rock Springs, Wyo., to Carlin, Neve, where Potts obtained employment
as a fiachinist with the Southern Pacific Railroad, In 1889, Mrs,
Potts advertised under maiden name X&XH with a matrimonial agency
and met and Married a 55-year-old resident of Fresno, Calif., Miles
Hawcetts She divided her time betwéen her tw o husbands until Faw-
cett became suspicious and traced her to Carlin, Hopelessly enamored
of the 5! tal, 300 1b, matron, Fawcett moved to Carlin and purchased
@ ranch on the outskirts of town and made arrangements to board with’
the Potts. On January 5, 1888, he was seen to enter their house and,
after that, he comphtely disappeared. The Potts presented a bill of
sale for his wagon and team as well as his other property and: said
that he had given it to then for his board bill and had left on a
train. Shortly afterwards, they sold their property in Carlin and re~
turned to Rock Springs, ‘he people who had purchased the Potts house
were disturbed at night by noises emanating from the cellar and, upon
on, discovered Fawcett!s dismembered body minus the head.
tradited from Wyoming and they claimed tha Fawcett
had committed Suicide by Shooting himself inthe head after they had
°
June 20, 1890
POTTS, Josiah and Elizabeth Atherton
Potts, @ white man, and his 40-year-old wife, Elizabeth, moved from
Rock Springs, Wiyo., to Carlin, Nev., where Potts ‘obtained employment
chinist with the Southern Pacific Railroad, In li 9, Mre.
advertised under maiden name XHXK wi
+) Mile:
until
sed
‘rangements to board with”
On January 5, 1688, he was seen to enter their hous and,
Siter that, he compitely disappeared, The Potts presented a bill of
Sale for his wagon and team as well as his other property and. said
a given it to them for his board bill and had left on a
afterwards, they sold their property in Carlin and re-|
turned to Kock Springs. ‘he people who'had purchased the Potts h
were disturbed at night by noises emanating fran
in, y claimed tha Fawcett
sudcide by shooting himself inthe head after tley had
aay
